Halladay needed just 19 pitches in his two innings during the Phils’ 5-5 tie with Detroit at Joker Marchant Stadium, the only blemish a solo home run by Victor Martinez with one out in the second inning.

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“I think the hardest part of every spring training is slowing yourself down,” Halladay said. “You’re always anxious. But I felt good, and that was the biggest thing. Five or six pitches I rushed -- I rushed through a cutter and a couple of changeups. But I felt good, and I’m happy with where things are. It’s just a matter of getting repetitions in and getting yourself under control.”

Last season Halladay struggled with lower back pain that likely led to the strained shoulder that landed him on the disabled list. His velocity was a touch lower last season, but the consequence of trying to throw the ball at a professional speed was that the labor in doing so caused his control to suffer.

After an offseason of changing his workout routine to make it easier on his back, Halladay felt more like the pitcher with two Cy Young Awards. The Tigers seemed to think so, too, with Torii Hunter -- whom Halladay struck out on four pitches in the first -- describing his stuff as “filthy.”

“(Pitching) feels a lot freer and easier than it did at the end of the season,” said Halladay, who was 11-8 with a 4.49 ERA in 25 starts last season. “I feel arm-wise it’s less effort. My arm’s in a better position. Last year I really felt like there were times when I had to throw as hard as I could to make up for the lack of lower-half (strength).

“In the bullpens so far and in the game today I felt my arm was in a better spot. I didn’t feel like I had to throw really hard. I just had to get my arm in the right spot and try to be smooth with it.”

Despite the home run to Martinez on a low cutter that he felt he rushed and drifted over the plate because of it, Halladay liked the way he felt after a long respite between the first and second innings.

“I knew I felt good,” Halladay said. “The big thing is the up-and-down and trying to maintain. All winter I threw, but that was throwing 45 to 60 pitches straight. I think the first few times, knowing that I sit down, then get back up (for the next inning), that was a tough part for me last year. That was a problem last year -- the more in-between (innings) I had, the tighter things would get. I was really happy how that was.”

While 89 mph isn’t classic Halladay velocity, it was his first start. Justin Verlander, who throws 95 mph fastballs in his sleep, was hitting 91-92 mph on his fastball on the gun, so Halladay’s clockings weren’t odd for Feb. 24.

“Velocity for me, at this point, not even something I think about,” he said, I think the first couple (of spring starts) is just body awareness. There’s a big difference between throwing bullpens and having hitters stand in there during a game.

“You’re really just trying to convert those bullpens into the game where you feel under control and really getting on both sides of the plate.”